I DO not have the Reading Post free paper delivered at my address, which is more the pity as Callback has some very interesting articles in it.

I refer to two such articles earlier this year – one on Cemetery Junction and the other about Earley St Peter’s Church.

My father, PC 50 Hedges, who was awarded the Reading Borough Police Bravery Medal in 1931 for stopping a runaway horse and cart when on duty at Jackson’s Corner, (I have the medal) occasionally performed duty at the control box.He died in 1938. The police widow’s pension in those days was £30 per annum.

My mother, who was left with seven children, the oldest 12 years and the youngest six months, had to go out and work.

She always said that hard work never killed anyone.

Her day started by walking from Lennox Road to help clean Alfred Sutton School, then back home to Wykeham Road to provide breakfast for seven hungry children.

Then she walked back to Wokingham Road Post Office and cleaned. At 12.30pm she worked in Jackson’s Yorkshire Fish and Chip Shop until 2pm and again in the evening.

In the afternoon she and her friend Mrs Fletcher walked to Earley St Peter’s Church to help clean.

Many a time upon visiting the church I saw them on their respective knees scrubbing the aisle. My oldest brother, Ronald, was a verger at this church. We all went to Sunday school and in 1934 I was awarded a Bible for good attendance. Inside were the signatures of the vicar Rev Nash and the schoolteacher, a Mrs Monger.

I have so many happy memories of my childhood, playing in Sol Joel’s playground and Palmer Park, Scout camping in Sol Joel private grounds, which is now Lower Earley housing estate, and learning to swim in River Loddon where the Reading Moat House now stands. I could go on and on, they were very happy days.